Turbot are flatfish with highly specialized biology that creates specific welfare challenges in aquaculture related to density, substrate, and bottom-oriented behavior.
Turbot aquaculture welfare is shaped by the fundamental mismatch between the species natural lifestyle and typical tank conditions. Turbot are sedentary bottom fish that need substrate to rest on and low stocking densities to reduce competition. Commercial systems that deny substrate and crowd fish create chronic stress visible in skin discoloration, fin damage, and increased aggression. Early-life cannibalism in nursery tanks causes significant welfare harms that can be substantially reduced through size-grading and feeding management. The premium price of turbot means that welfare improvements through reduced density and enriched conditions are economically viable — producers who implement them can market accordingly.